Is chandalier bar still cranking out fun molecular stuff or did that go down hill as well

I'd still give Vesper a chance. And Chandelier is still very good from what I've heard. Casino floor level got an upgrade with Adina Artstein moving to that bar from the high rollers club. Level 1.5 is more experimental focused.

Went to chengdu taste last week while in Las Vegas. It is over in china town just off the strip. It was A++++. Ordered cumin lamb, cold garlic noodles, string beans, eggplant and a griddled beef dish that was burn your lips off spicy but oh so good. I walked in at 130 pm and had no idea what to order.

My party of 3 sat down at a community round table, with three locals who had just had there food served and it all looked amazing and we just said we will have what they are having. Superb.

Live report from Vegas: Bouchon has absolutely gone downhill. A terrible sausage hash, famous chicken and waffles couldn't even save the day with terrible texture on chicken skin, plus very average beignets. Nothing inedible by any means just nowhere near where it was. Save the $80 breakfast will inevitably cost you there for a few hands of blackjack.

In better news after MAdoubleT contacted me personally to recommend Chengdu I struck a deal with my husband, who dislikes going off strip and grungy ethnic restaurants, to give it a try for lunch tomorrow in exchange for a trip to the White Castle here. Since I'm terrible about posting after trips I may do another live report!

Oh boy, was MAdoubleT right. Chengdu Taste is AWESOME. I was describing it to some fellow PFN's as having my favorite version of every Sichuan dish from 4 different restaurants all at once. "Only" got 4 dishes since I ended up going alone (he ended up gambling until 5am...). Water boiled fish, wontons in chili oil, eggplant in spicy garlic sauce, and kung pao chicken to take back to him. Everything was just perfect level of heat for each dish, and the water boiled fish was out of this world. It was a $6 uber ride from the mirage too. I will note I got there at 11:30 on Sunday and sat right down. By the time I left there were about 40 people waiting in 100+ degree temps outside.

GO THERE

Plus some mediocre cell phone pics, not sure what the volcano dishes are but appreciated "Warning: hot stone not for consumption" had to be detailed"

Dapuma wrote:staying at MGM for this trip, is there any bar worth getting a cocktail at there?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ MGM pays much more attention to nightclubs than they do to serving a decent drink.

Dapuma wrote:Looking for some other places to try, already going to hit up Raku again - nothing looks that appealing at MGM

Have you been to Chada Thai yet? It's where Lotus of Siam's old wow went. On the way back to the hotel, have a nightcap at The Golden Tiki.

Dapuma wrote:Don't want to go for JR or L'Alteir - steakhouses don't really do it for me

I wouldn't call L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon a steakhouse. I mean, they do have steak on the menu, but from what I know (and I could very well be wrong, I haven't been to any of these) L'Atelier is closer to Jaleo or Lago experience-wise. Speaking of Lago, I've heard good things, and even if the food is meh, the fountain view is unbelievable.

Dapuma wrote:Herb and Rye was just okay for food, great cocktail list though

It's run by Tao Group, which runs Marquee nightclub at The Cosmopolitan, along with Tao Asian restaurant/nightclub/beach club at Venetian and Lavo Italian restaurant/casino lounge/sports bar at Palazzo. I feel like the summary of Tao Group gives me all the information I need about B&E.

artvandelay wrote:I have a dining credit to use for an upcoming trip and am weighing Le Cirque or Picasso in the Bellagio. Anyone have any opinions about the relative merits of each?

Thanks

I went to Picasso about 5 or 6 years ago. Service was impeccable and great ambiance. Food on the other hand was tasty and well executed but really not anything that blew me away. For the price point I expect to be more wowed but certainly not a bad experience. I'm also not that into fine art, I'm sure if I was it would've made dinner much more interesting to be dining among actual Picasso's.

The only one on your new list I've tried is Flock and Fowl and it was outstanding. I got food to go, which often isn't a good reflection of quality, and it was amazing. I had the Hainese chicken, chicken schmaltz rice and a side of bone broth. I never leave Vegas without hitting LOS and that duck at Raku is life changing so I don't envy your dilemma. By the way, if you get to LA more frequently there is a Raku there as well.